La vuelta del marido / Arbolera / Lavaba la blanca ninya
See lectures: Tree of Life / Jewish Musical Heritage / Jewish Weddings
La vuelta del marido
- Ay, mancebo, ay mancebo ay, mancebo tan gentil, | - O young man, young man, young man so refined, |
si a Francia vos irías, al mi amor saludes. | If you are going to France, greet my love. |
- ¿ Cómo lo saludaría sin podeldo conocer? | - How shall I greet him, if I cannot recognize him? |
- El es alto como el pino, derecho como un fener. | - He is as tall as the pine, as straight as an arrow. |
La su gargantilla es alto que parece una minaré, | His neck is tall resembling a minaret, |
en la su mano derecha una lanza lleva el, | In his right hand he carries a lance, |
En la punta de la lanza tiene un rico testamel | At the point of the lance is a costly testament |
que se lo labró la reina, que su namorado es. | Wrought by the queen whose lover he is. |
(Text taken from: Weich-Shahak, S. [2006]. En Buen Siman!, Jerusalem, Pardes: p.35)
Arbolera, arbolera
Arbolera, arbolera, arbolera y tan gentil, | Tree, tree, tree so wondrous, |
| la raíz tiene de oro, la simienta de marfil. | The root is of gold, the base is of ivory. |
| En la mas ramica alta, hay una dama tan gentil, | In the highest branch is a charming lady. |
| que peinaba sus cabellos con un peine de marfil. | who is combing her hair with an ivory comb. |
| A ganim dostum guideyim. | Let us go, my friend. |
| Por ahi pasa un caballero misurado y tan gentil. | A knight passed by |
| - ¿ Qué buxcáx, la mi señora, talas horas por aquí? | What have you been looking for, madam, for so long? |
| A ganim dostum guideyim. | Let us go, my friend. |
| - ¿ Más qué me dareis, señora, que no lo trajera aquí? | What will you give me, madam, for he isn't here? |
| - Yo vos do mis tres, mis hijas, que quedaron d'Amadí. | I will give my three daughters, whom Amadi left me. |
| La una para la mesa, la otra para servir; | One for the table, one to serve, |
| y la más chica de ellas, para honrar y dormir. | And the youngest to sleep with. |
| A ganim dostum guideyim. | Let us go, my friend. |
| - ¿ Más qué me dareis, señora, que lo trajera aquí? | What else will you give me? |
| - Más no tengo, caballero, para dar vos yo aquí. | I don't have anything else. |
| - ¿ Dares vuestro puerpo lindo tan galan y tan gentil? | Will you give me your beautiful body? |
| - Malano tal caballero, que tal llegó a dezir. | Cursed is the knight who can talk in this way. |
| A ganim dostum guideyim. | Let us go, my friend. |
(Text taken from: Hamilton, M. (1996). Change and tradition in a Sephardic romance. Jahrbuch für Volksliedforschung, 41: 104-108)
Lavaba la blanca nina
Lavaba la blanca niña, lavaba y espandía, | The pale girl is washing and spreading the clothes |
Con lágrimas la lavaba, con sospiros la espandía. | She is washing with tears, she is spreading with sighs. |
Por ahi paso un caballero, un copo de agua le demandó; | A knight came by, and asked for a cup of water. |
de lágrimas de sus ojos siete cantaricas le hinchó. | With the tears from her eyes she filled seven jugs. |
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¿ Por que llorax, mi siñora? Por que llorax, que tenías? | - Why are you crying, my lady? What's wrong? |
Todos vienen de la guerra y al qu'espero non hay venir. | - Everybody has come bacl from the war except for the one that I am waiting for. |
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Dåme sinal, mi siñora, siñal del vuestro marido. | - Give me a sign, madam, by which to point out your husband. |
Alto, alto es como el pino, derecho como es la flecha, | - He is very tall, like the pine, and as straight as an arrow. |
una barbica rubis tiene empezando a despuntar. | - He has a yellow beard which has just stared to grow. |
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- Ya lo vide, mi siñora, a la guerra matado 'stá; | - I saw him, madam, he was killed in the war. |
dos cucilladas hay dado en collar de su jaqueta. | Two wounds from a sword stained the collar of his jacket. |
Tres palabricas me habló una hora antes que muriera: | He said three words to me an hour before he died: |
Mujerica hermosa tengo, hicos como la estrella. | "I have a beautiful wife, and sons like the star," |
La otra es, mi siñora, que me case yo con ella. | And the other thing he said, madam, was that I should marry her. |
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Siete años lo asperí, siete, mas qu mujer de pacencia, | - I have waited for him for seven years, more patiently than other wives, |
si a los siete non veniera, bivda ella quedaría. | If he does not come back after seven years I shall live like a widow. |
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- Yo era el vuestro marido, el que atornó de la guerra. | - I am your husband, I have come back from the war. |
- Si tu eras mi marido, siñal de mi puerpo tenías. | - If you are my husband, give me a sign regarding my body. |
- En tu pecho, el derecho, un larico tenías. | - On your right breast you have a birthmark. |
Se tomaron, se abesaron, y a echar se irían. | They kissed; they embraced; and they went to lie down. |
